Man Handle

MAC 

Andy ran out of the secure area of the airport
with the biggest grin on his face, his little backpack bobbing. “Dad!” he
shouted.

My father followed him at a more sedate pace,
smiling at the eager reunion.

I leaned down and scooped Andy up into my arms.
“Hey, bud. Did you have fun? See Mickey?”

He nodded enthusiastically, then pointed to the
hat on his head, the one with the big black ears. “I did. And Pluto and Goofy.”

“Wow.”

“We ate chicken nuggets shaped like Mickey, rode
on an old train, a monotrain and a big boat.”

“A monotrain?”

“Monorail,” my dad corrected as he joined us.

“Yeah, that thing. It was really cool. There were
fireworks and a parade and the haunted house which made Grumpy really scared
but I held his hand in the spooky elevator and–”

I expected the excited recount, but he didn’t even
take a breath. “All that? Did Grumpy throw up on the teacup ride?”

“I didn’t.” Dad said with a puffed chest, but then
looked a little sheepish. “Barely.”

I turned. “Come on, let’s go see if your suitcase
is here yet.”

Andy wiggled in my hold and I put him down. “Not
yet. We need to wait.”

I frowned down at him. “Wait?”

“Yeah, we have to wait for her. She was sitting
next to us and she’s very nice.” He came close, put his hands around his mouth
and whispered. “She’s pretty, too.”

“You made a friend on the plane?”

I looked to Dad for guidance and he rolled his
eyes, although he still smiled, which meant he was being indulgent.

“Yeah. Not just a friend. More than a friend.” Andy
turned and looked down the hallway that brought incoming passengers from the
secure side of the airport. “There. That’s her!”

I looked up and… if I were a cartoon character, my
eyeballs would pop out of my head. They’d turn into hearts and little birdies
would be chirping. An anvil would fall next.

Andy’s new friend wasn’t a kid. She was all woman and holy shit, she was
beautiful. Not girl-next-door pretty, but stunning. Everything about her was
perfect. From the top of her carefully styled dark hair to her heeled boots.
Dark eyes, a pert nose, high cheekbones, full lips. She was… breathtaking.
Dressed casually in black pants, a white blouse and jean jacket didn’t hide
that she was soft and curvy. A hot pink scarf of the softest and fluffiest yarn
was around her neck. Silver earrings dangled. She screamed high maintenance and
definitely not a Hunter Valley local.

She just got
off a plane, you dumbass!

“Miss Georgia!” Andy called and waved his little
hand as if he was seeing Minnie Mouse in the theme park parade.

The woman’s face lit up at the sight of Andy and
she went right to him, wheeling her pale pink carry-on. Holy hell, that smile.
I wanted that aimed at me.

“There’s my friend,” she said, her voice soft and
kind. “I knew I couldn’t get lost in the big ol’ airport if y’all were here.”

He nodded, completely under her thrall. I could
relate.

“The circle thing for the suitcases is over
there.” He pointed in the direction of baggage claim.

I couldn’t stop staring, taking in every inch of
her.

Dad cleared his throat.

I stared some more.

“Mac,” he whispered. “Close your mouth.”

I shook myself out of the female-induced haze I
was in and snapped my mouth shut. Licked my lip because it was possible I
drooled.